Traveling trunk



July 1, 192s. i 1,544,753

J. C. HIGGINS TRAVELING TRUNK Filed Nov. 7.` 1924 Patented July 7, 1925.

PATENT.. OFFICE.

JOSEPH C. HIGGINS, 0F LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

TRAVELIN G TRUNK.

Application filed November 7, 1924. Serial No. 748,385.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH .0. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Lincoln, in the countycf Lancaster and State ofNebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traveling Trunks, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention relates to traveling trunks of the kind known as automobile trunks, i. e., those which can be carried in or on an automobile. l

The particular purpose of my invention .is to so construct and equip a trunk of t is kind that dust may be effectively exclu ed from the interior of the trunk. According to my invention the body of the trunk is made in any suitable way and a top or cover is hinged to the body, but between the upper edges of the body and the associated edges of the top or cover, I interpose in a novel way interlocking strips of metal which experience has demonstrated render the trunk weatherproof, dust, rain, and other foreign matter being entirely excluded.

In the accompanyingdrawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automobile trunk embodying my improvements. j

Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof.

Figurt 3 illustrates the interlocking strips applied to the trunk body and cover-to provide the eatherproof joint. j

Figure i is a detail View in perspective of one corner af the rear portion of the trunk showing frtain details of construction.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illus-- trating other details.

The body A of the trunk may be lof usuall or any suitable construction and may be reinforced and\)strengthened by the vusual devices shown. I`he trunk may be provided with catches and locks of thev usual kind.,

The covei B may be likewise reinforced and strengthened by the usual devices indicated.

f The upper edge i of the trunk bodyA on.

opposite sides is inclined downwardly from therear .part of the body to the front and the Lipper edge of thefrontpiece at a is Valso inclined from its rear end'forwardly andjdownwardly. j j l. j

`.The back piece C of the body extends a short distance above the sides of the body and the upper edge c off'the'back" piecel is inclined forwardlyI and downwardly at an angle of about 450.

n The top or cover B has a rear edge b inclined to correspond to and register With the edge c of the body when the cover is closed'. The front piece b of the coveris also slightly inclined to match the edge a of the front piece of the body and the sides D of the top or cover are inclined as shown from their rear ends forwardly and downwardly, the arrangement being such that when the top or cover is closed,l the edges of the' top and the edgesof the body will coincide.

In order to exclude dust and other foreign mattei', i. e., to make the trunk weatherproof, I employ interlocking strip-s of metal applied to the trunk body and the cover. The strips E whichv are applied to the body of the trunk each comprises a centrally arranged rib e and side flanges e. The flanges are formed with nail holes e2 to receive nails which secure the strips to the body in the manner shown in Figures l and 2. As illustrated there is a strip E applied to thel upper edge of the front of the trunk body and strips E applied to the upper edges of the two sides of the body. The strips E are adapted to .engage similar strips F secured to the front and side edges ofthe cover.

Each strip F comprises a central hollow rib.

to the inner wall of the. back piece C just below the inclined edge c of the back and this Qstrip extends from one side of the trunk to the other. A similar strip h: is secured to the inside of the cover just below the inclined or beveled part Z) thereof. When the cover is closed, these strips g and It come together in the manner indicated in Figure 5 and make a tight joint.

lAs anadd'itional protection, a strip K of leather orj other suitable material, is applied tojthe cover :and theI body at the opposite endsof the trunk between the cover Iand thebody to prevent dust and other foreign inatter from entering at the ends of the joints. Thestrips K vvare ,adapted-to be folded between the inclined edges b and c of the cover and body, and when the cover is moved to its open position; these strips K serve to limit. the opening movement of said cover.

The trunk is furthermore provided with a iiexible covering which extends over the hinges zI and serves to exclude dust from the hinged joint. It will be observedthat the strips E are applied to the upper edges of the front and sides of the trunk body without deforming in any way these edges, while the strips F are applied by first cutting grooves in the edges of the cover, inserting the hollow ribs f, and nailing the strips in place. The arrangement -is such that when the cover is closed the ribs e of the stri-ps E linterlock with the grooves f and the strips F and a weatherproof joint is produced. The leather strips g, h. and K are so arranged as to provide additional protections Where needed' at the back of the trunk where the hinges H are located.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a dust-proof automobile trunk, th( combination with a body including front and rear walls and end walls, the rear wall projecting above the end walls and having its upper edge inclined downwardly toi wards the front wall, of a coverhinged to the ybody at the rear upper corner of the rear wall and provided with side walls and a front wall, the rear edge of the cover being` inclined to fit the upper inclined edge of the rear wall of the body, the side walls of the cover being shaped to abut the upper projecting portion of the rear wall of -the body, and Cooperating dust excluding means between the end and front walls of the body and cover.

2. In a dust-proof automobile trunk, the combination with a bodyv including front and rear walls and end walls, the rear wall projecting above the end walls and having its upper edge inclinedA downwardly towards the front wall, of a cover hinged to the body at the rear upper corner of the rear wall and provided with side walls and a front wall, the rear edge of the trunk being inclined to fit the upper inclined edge of the rear wall of the body, the side walls of the cover being shaped to abut the upper pro- `jecting portion of the rear wall of the body,

cooperating dust excluding means betweenv the end and front walls of the body and cover, and a flexible dust-proof covering secured to the body and cover and extending over said hinges.

3. In a dust-proof automobile trunk, the combination with a body including iront and rear walls and end walls, the rear wall projecting above the end walls and having its upper edge inclined downwardly towards the iront wall, 'of a cover hinged to the body at the rear upper corner of the rear wall and provided with side walls and a front wall, the rear edge of the trunk being inclined to fit the upper inclined edge of the rear wall of the body, the side walls of the cover being shaped to abut the upper projecting portion of the rear wall of the body, interlocking dust excluding strips respectively secured to' the upper edge of the Jfront wall of the body and to the lower edge oi the front wall oi' the cover, said strip being co-extensive with said walls, and interlocking dust excluding strips respectively secured to the upper edges of side walls of the body and to the lower edges of the side walls of the cover, said last mentioned strips extending rearwardly rom the first mentioned strips to the upper .projecting portion oi' the rear wall of the body.

4. In a dust-proof automobile trunk, the combination with a body including front and rear walls and end walls, the rear wall projecting above the end walls and having its upper edge inclined downwardly towards the front wall, of a cover hinged to lthe body at the rear upper corner of the rear wall and provided with side walls and a front wall, the rear edge of the cover being inclined to fit the upper inclined edge of the rear wall of the body, the side walls of the cover being shaped to abut the upper projecting portion of the rear wall oi the body, cooperating dust excluding means between the end and front walls of the body aiid cover, and exible strips connecting the cover and rear wall of the body for limiting the opening movement of the cover, said flexible strips being foldable between the inclined edges of the cover and body for eX- cluding dust when the cover is in its closed position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOSEPH C. HIGGINS. 

